This review falls somewhere between 3 1/2 to 4 stars. Ever since I heard about Don't Tell Aunty opening up last year I've been itching to get in and try it, especially as someone who loves Indian cuisine and someone who is often intrigued by fusion concepts and modern twists on classic dishes. We finally decided to go for a mid afternoon meal on a Saturday in the beginning of June. We looked at the menu online ahead of time to refresh our memories on their offerings, and the food was listed all together in a section called "all day menu". We had some dishes in mind that we wanted to try, namely the tikka tots, the mirchi bhajji and the rasam ramen. Unfortunately none of these items were on the menu when we went in. I realized that they have separate menus for lunch and dinner with the lunch menu being more limited, which I know lots of restaurants do. Nevertheless we were still excited to try the food there. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice. Beautiful design, very comfortable and the music was a vibe. Contrary to some of the other reviews here saying that the service was aloof and lackluster, we found that it was prompt and down to earth. We opted for some Indian beers over cocktails. For food we decided on some curry dishes. Boyfriend ended up with paneer butter masala, I had Goan fish curry and we split some garlic naan. The guy did warn ahead of time that the fish curry was a naturally spicy dish, to which I stated that I was totally cool with that since I love the spicier dishes. Boyfriend asked for his butter masala to be extra hot. The presentation of the entrees is absolutely stunning. The rice was fluffy and the curry hit all the flavor notes as it was a little sweet, a little spicy and a little tangy. In hindsight I think I should've asked them to make it a tad spicier for me, but the flavor was definitely there and it was a pretty solid, filling dish. Boyfriend really enjoyed his butter masala, saying that they delivered on his request for extra heat. The bread wasn't bad, though the portion is rather small and it kind of reminded me of the packaged naan bread you can get at the grocery store. Overall it was a good experience at Don't Tell Aunty. I did see on the website that they were making changes to the menu, so I look forward to seeing what else they can do. read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I saw a few food bloggers post about this place, so I decided to try it. It's located in Back Bay near Newbury Street. Parking isn't the easiest, but it's manageable. The restaurant is beautiful, although it felt a little too dark during the day. Service was slow, even though it wasn't busy. We ordered the Butter Chicken with naan and the paratha egg roll. The Butter Chicken was good, but a little too sweet and lacked depth of flavor. The chicken was juicy and tender, which was the best part. The naan was good, but I've had better. The paratha egg roll was the standout. It was surprisingly delicious and my favorite dish of the meal. Eat here if you're curious. read more

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I stayed at the CitizenM hotel in Backbay and just needed something to eat. I planned on going to another place on the street but Don't Tell Aunty caught my eye and am I so glad it did so! The food was phenomenal. Hands down, no notes, fantastic. The portions were shockingly large. The atmosphere was club like which felt a little odd but also added to the vibes. Service was quick, recommendations were given without fanfare and they were absolutely correct. Absolutely would go back in a heart beat and I was texting friends with upcoming Boston trips to make sure to stop in. read more

Overall 3.5. My black pea curry was soupy and not thick, taste was good and spicy. The meat dishes others had were good read more

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Was really looking forward to coming here after seeing all of the hype on instagram and TikTok...only to get confronted with the hard truth: don't come here if you're looking for authentic Indian food. If you're looking for a vibey place with interesting twists on Indian food (not spicy by any means) then this is your place. If you're looking for authentic Indian food (sweet butter chicken????) then maybe consider going someplace else....I do have to say that the staff was kind enough to ask if I wanted something else, but tasting the food let me know that most likely anything else wouldn't be my type. I will say that the fish fry was pretty decent but definitely order some chaat masala on the side for some extra flavor. The chutney that came with it was very watery. Also the 2 naans was too funny, never been to a restaurant that gave less than 4 pieces. read more

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Grade D Service : Slow My order: ordered an OG Butter chicken - 2 Naan and 1 Malabar paratha. Why the grade: Naan tasted like it was prepackaged somewhere and then reheated. And tasted stale. The butter chicken was almost like a rookie cook has made this the first time around. I am just surprised how this restaurant has been standing for a year. read more

4.5 stars for a solid lunch Vibe: Fantastical decor with fake tree and hanging lanterns featured in the middle of the restaurant. High and low top tables and bar seating available. Service: Good overall Food: The Fried Chicken Sandwich, a dish that is hard to excel at, was executed well with it's Indian twist. Coating on the dry side rather than crispy but overall good textures and flavors. The fries it came with were good. Value: On par for sandwiches these days Overall this was a good lunch and there were a lot of menu items that looked really tasty, would try again if in the neighborhood. read more

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Don't Tell Aunty is Boston's first Indian gastro bar and it's bringing the heat--literally and musically! Located at 1080 Boylston St, Boston, MA, this vibrant, tapas-style Indian spot is bursting with flavor, color, and energy. Perfect for date night, a girls' night out, or just when you're craving something bold and fun! Here's everything we tried--and what we thought: Okra Fries - $7 (GF/Vegan/Vegetarian) The name says it all. These super crispy okra sticks were like Indian veggie chips Lightly battered and perfectly paired with a sweet tamarind dipping sauce. Even if you're not an okra fan, give them a shot. 10/10 Kale Chaat - $14 (Vegetarian) My FAVORITE dish of the night. Stunning presentation and addictive flavors--crispy kale fritters with yogurt, mint, and tamarind sauces. Sweet, tangy, crunchy, creamy... just perfection. 10/10 Lamb Ghee Roast - $17 (GF) So tender and juicy! Marinated leg meat slow-cooked in ghee with curry leaves and green chilis. Rich, spiced, and totally sharable. Got that heat but in the best way. 10/10 OG Butter Chicken - $20 (GF, contains nuts) A classic done RIGHT. Velvety makhani sauce, fenugreek, and generous grilled chicken pieces. Pure comfort food. Would 100% order again and again. 10/10 Garlic Naan - $5 (2 pieces) Tasty but a bit small for the price. Wish it was fluffier and more plentiful. 6/10 Kheema Biryani - $20 (GF) Fragrant basmati rice with ground lamb, crispy onions, and a side of boondi raita. Bold and flavorful, great to pair with butter chicken. 8.5/10 Kerala Fried Chicken Sandwich - $16 Honestly, the only letdown. It looked good, but flavor-wise, it just didn't compete with the other standout dishes. The fries had more punch than the chicken. 5/10 Jamun Sundae - $12 (Veg, contains nuts) Gulab Jamun + vanilla ice cream + ghee-roasted almonds = a fun and playful twist on a traditional Indian dessert. Super tasty! Just wish the ice cream wasn't so rock-hard. 8/10 Drinks? Don't skip them! We tried 2 cocktails and 1 mocktail--all expertly made, beautifully presented, and seriously satisfying. Final Thoughts: Don't Tell Aunty is not your typical Indian restaurant. It's fresh, funky, and full of flavor. With bold dishes and a foresty atmosphere, it's definitely worth a visit. Just don't tell aunty you're out past 10. Overall food rating: 9/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Affordability: 8/10 there were some dishes that were just not AS expensive as other indian restaurants in the area (and I was happy about that!) Must-Try: Kale Chaat, Butter Chicken, Okra Fries Bonus: Every dish is Instagram-worthy! read more

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The food is decent, but the service is a chaotic mess. The cocktails were lackluster as well. Food: 4/5 Cocktails: 3/5 Service: 2/5 MVPs of the night were the Kothu Bolognese (chicken), Keema biryani and butter chicken croquettes. Least favorite was the banana leaf wrapped fish which was dry, and the kale chaat. For cocktails, I tried the tamarind disco (tequila), and the Kashmiri velvet (bourbon). Didn't enjoy either. Coming back to service, we had 3-4 servers taking our order at different times, in an uncoordinated manner. They just seemed in a rush to open the space up for a Bollywood party. Never checked in to ask if we needed anything, if the food was ok, or asked if we wanted to get dessert. They just brought the check and took our water glasses away. I'd be back for the food if the service improved. read more

Overall, really liked this place and am happy to see something so different in Back Bay of all places! The manager was kind and fit in our party of five despite something happening with our reservation. The ambiance is very lively and upbeat with music. Service was attentive. Food was average overall but favorites for us were the butter chicken croquettes, kale chaat (we ordered it twice), lamb vindaloo, butter chicken, fish fry, garlic naan, lamb keema biryani, and Parle G dessert. I wasn't as into the okra fries because they were pretty heavily fried so you couldn't really taste the okra. One of our friends also was less into the ramen. The drink menu has potential, I'd like to see more Indian twists on classics and potentially some more options that aren't as sweet. I'd definitely come back and I look forward to their brunch with live music. read more

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New Cool place with club vibes! From the outside you can't tell at all and once you get inside the decor, the lighting, the music you just take it all in! They've only been open for a few days and the place seemed crowded - on a Sunday evening so that's a good sign! They have an extensive menu with a number of dishes that you may not see in most Indian restaurants- eg okra fries - pretty good! The mushroom rice was ok imo a bit too salty for me. The fish fry was good and so was the chicken croquettes in sauce. The fish masala was really good. Went well with the naan. Service was very friendly. As we were leaving they even helped us taking our pictures by the bar which is beautiful with the green colored lighting bottles effect. Overall great experience will be back to try some other dishes. read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Inside - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The vibe in here is pretty nice. The service was lackluster. The spicy dish i had was great on flavor but had very few chunks of actual lamb. I was hoping for more here..i give it a 2.5 read more

We went here for lunch and noticed they have separate menus for lunch and dinner, though some dishes overlap. The place is cute and cozy, and the service was fast. They don't have high chairs yet, likely because they're newly opened--hopefully they'll add them soon. We ordered Chai felicia,Tamarind Disco, Kashmir Velvet (cocktail), and Aam Ras Mojito (mocktail). The drinks were okay. For starters, the Okra Fritters and Kale Fritters Chaat were delicious. The lamb and shrimp dishes were also quite good. The Kerala Chicken Smashed Burger and Kathi Rolls were just okay, but both came with fries. The Mango Lassi Cheesecake was a nice way to end the meal. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and worth a visit. read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Chai Felicia - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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As long as you keep in mind that this is not authentic Indian restaurant. It specifically says, "Indian gastropub". So expect the Indian fusion food. Personally, I think everything was delicious and creative. Service staff were attentive. I enjoyed my dinner here. read more

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Gave this place two tries and not sure what to make of it. It gives me sangeet vibes with their speakers that are too loud for the venue that you can't hear people next to you. Food was better during their soft launch. They ruined the black chickpeas with their salad. Currys were so sweet. Fish was good. I probably wouldn't come here unless I had to. read more

The reviews about the atmosphere are pretty spot-on. The music is loud and the servers could stand to be a little more friendly, but the food is decent and many of the dishes are fun twists on your standard South Asian dishes. I had the fried chicken sandwich, which was good, but the spicy chicken wings were a little too spicy and not balanced in flavor. read more

Tried Don't Tell Auntie on a Friday night recently with a reservation through Open Table. Upon arrival we were promptly told the reservation was for 90 minutes. I was aware of this from booking the reservation but it's not often the host mentions it so bluntly. But it's Friday in downtown so it's fine. The decor and ambiance in the restaurant is fun and vibey. They were playing some EDM pretty loud which was interesting, kind of felt like a club. The food ended up being really good for the most part. Loved the three chili chicken, it was super tender, hot (temp), and had a medium spice level that was really tasty. The spiced smash burger with spicy masala fries was excellent too! You could really taste the Indian spices in the burger. The OG butter chicken was just okay. I'm no expert but it tasted more like a standard chicken curry but the biggest issue was there was very little chicken in it, and for the price it was wild that it didn't come with rice. The naan was delicious but you only get two pretty small pieces. So it's a bit pricey here for what you get with some dishes. Our biggest issue was the service. It was pretty slow and went long stretches without waiters checking in on us. This made the call out to the 90 minute strict limit when we arrived feel a little frustrating. Overall, I would definitely return as most of the food was delicious read more

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Soft opening- the place looks mysterious from the outside and as you walk in, you wonder if you are in a fun club or a restaurant. The interior was dark with a bright colorful lit bar section. The food and drink menu (scan from QR code) shows a fusion of traditional Indian dishes with a modern twist. I love the kale chaat and the lamb briyani. The butter chicken croquette was meh and was too soft in the inside that may me wonder if its fully cooked. Garlic naan was too dry and pork vindoloo was pretty decent. The service was good and definitely go there if you have a birthday-in for a nice surprise of Bollywood celebration! Nice to try if you are in the area. read more

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I'll be as honest in this review as I can for the hope that a staff member reads this and considers it. DTA is brand new and they're definitely still finding their bearings. The drinks were exceptionally well balanced, creative and the bar staff knows what they're doing. I wouldn't change anything in this department. Great work here! Loved it. Let's talk about the food. The dips trio app was somewhat muted, and had a comically small portion of bread. The chaat-tots were served colder than I assume was intended. Both of these things can be fine tuned. The curries have a good depth of flavor - particularly the vindaloo. I enjoyed it! The only note would be to toast the spices more before cookery. Also, we found it bizarre rice had to be ordered separately. We were curious about the smash burger, and it was honestly *very* good. Cooked and constructed perfectly, and the seasoning on the fries was bold. Great work on this dish, my personal favorite, which is odd, cause it's the least Indian dish. The biryani was a little overcooked. My table enjoyed the flavors here. The service is where DTA starts to lose big points. It took a long time between seating and getting someone to take our first order. At every moment, in fact, we had to flag down a waiter to be noticed for a refill or to get us a check at the end of night. Interestingly, the time it took between orders and items to come out *was* very reasonable, so the timing issue isn't with the kitchen. Hopefully, this is just a hiccup of being a new restaurant while training new staff. The decor of the restaurant was quite lovely, modern and inviting. It certainly catches you by surprise in an otherwise student neighborhood. However, this *is* a restaurant - right? I have no idea why the goa-psy techno and trance music is at club volume. Don't get me wrong, I loved the music choice, - it just needed to be 30-40% quieter. My table was practically yelling to communicate. If DTA wants to be a party/dance place - great, but it seems to be struggling with identity since most patrons seemed to be there for dinner. DTA isn't bad. They're trying to be a different kind of Indian restaurant than the typical "curry house" model you see across the city - and I'll credit them for that. I'd be curious to see where they're at in a few months, if they've tightened up the service and other pain points. When they have, I'll update the review and rating accordingly. read more

Don't Tell Aunty was a solid dinner, but not necessarily one to write home about nor a place I will find myself craving going forward. We came in with a reservation for a group on a weeknight, couldn't be seated until the majority of the group was present, but were placed in a cute booth that could seat up to 8. Waiters checked in within the first 10 minutes of arriving but we were still waiting for a member of our group, so it took a little while for them to return after that. So, we placed orders for drinks and appetizers at the same time to minimize the wait. A few folks got cocktails and also we tried the mocktail - the mocktail was actually excellent, well balanced and spiced, and the cocktails ranged from unique and tasty (Kashmiri Velvet) to knid of one-note (Rum two ways). Apps we tried were: masala fries (nicely spiced, but served with plain ketchup), Chatar tots (good, but because tater tots are good - the seasoning was pretty tamarind heavy), okra fries (group liked these, i thought they were pretty oily), channa bunna masala (light, but not particularly spiced), and the avakaya hummus (good). We were done with the apps by the time we placed our main orders, and then those took a while to come out - we got: - mushroom fried rice - group really liked this, nicely garlicky and light mushroom taste - auntyji paneer - this was unusual, the paneer was grated into a very creamy, semi-sweet sauce, so it could have used some kind of texture in it - spinach dal - pretty good, but exactly what it sounds like (similar to what you'd make at home) - a south indian coconut curry - also seemed a little sweet and quite creamy General consensus was that the entrees were better than the apps. We finished off with the mango lassi cheesecake and the parle-g ice cream sandwich. I had been excited for the ice cream sandwich, but it was only okay. The parle-G were super soggy and almost fell apart as you ate them. The menu also said vanilla ice cream and it definitely tasted mango-y or something different. Weirdly, it actually tasted kind of similar to the mango lassi cheesecake (which I didn't try, but my friends said was decent). The final bill came out to about 40$/person before tip, which isn't too bad. All in, we were seated for 2 hours and 15 minutes, which feels like a slightly longer than expected time but not outrageous. A small note - around 8pm, the music got super loud. It was good music, but it was a weeknight and made it a little tricky to talk in a group. So - I feel like we tried the full experience here and had a pleasant time. I think they are still working on their menu items/flow since they just opened, so I'd be curious to see how things settle out! read more

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SKIP THIS SPOT unless you want to feel ripped off Another horrific Indian restaurant in Boston. If you're Indian and reading this don't go. -bad service (service was not accommodating the restaurant was empty and he would seat us at another table even though we complained about the lights directly in our eye where he sat us) -the naan is STORE BOUGHT (NOT FRESH MADE) how are you going charge these prices for store bought naan. Even the waiter agreed with me when i complained about it. This is literally criminal. if I wanted to eat reheated store bought naan I would've just stayed and ate at home. -they charge you $19 for gravy (protein is additional charge) -asked for shrimp and they literally put FOUR... yeah 4 in the whole curry. -the food taste wise is ok. definitely don't expect spectacular food -ambiance is nice but not food -just have drinks the drinks are good read more

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Amazing food, great drinks, rocking music, and a lively atmosphere -- the perfect place for a fun night out! We had a blast!!

I've been really wanting to try this restaurant and am so glad I finally got to! We came with a small group of friends after work and it wasn't too busy. It seemed easy to grab a walk in table, but I would still recommend a reservation. Our server was prompt and very nice, walking us through their menu and checking in often. We tried a variety of curries, apps, and naan, and everything was perfect for sharing. I really enjoyed the sweetness of all their curries, especially the sauce included with the butter chicken croquettes. I kept going back to this sauce! The butter chicken curry was also similarly sweet and delicious, but I wish there were more chicken pieces in it. I think we only got five small bites of chicken, which was a little disappointing. For dipping, we tried paratha and garlic naan, both great pairings to all the curries and sauces. I did wish we got more per order, since we had to keep ordering more throughout the dinner. This could be a positive for some though. Overall, I enjoyed coming here and the decor made it look rainforest cafe-like and added some nice moody ambiance to the space! I would love to try more off their menu and definitely some cocktails next time. read more

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While this place definitely isn't your traditional Indian takeout joint, it still has some tasty Indian fusion food with a bit more of an upscale feel to it. We stopped here in the middle of the week and it was decently busy, which was a good sign considering they recently opened. The staff were immediately very helpful and welcoming. With some help from our waiter, we ordered 3 things to split - the masala fries (which were essentially just normal fries with masala powder dusted on top), chicken wings (with an Indo-Chinese sauce that was super flavorful), and biryani. The biryani was the standout of these dishes in terms of flavor complexity and value, but we honestly enjoyed everything we tried. I will say that all of our food had a decent amount of spice, even though they weren't marketed as spicy. This wasn't a problem for us since we enjoy spicy food, but I could imagine it being too much for others. Glad a place like this opened up in the area, and looking forward to going back again! read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Masala fries and wings - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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DTA was a solid restaurant! It's new and boston's first gastropub! Music was great and vibes were great! Food wise, the menu was unique but thought it was bit on the expensive side. These are not just traditional indian dishes, they definitely had a unique quality to them. Ordered the butter chicken and it came in minced chicken balls instead of normal chicken breast. Okra fries and the kale chaat were unique and yum! Dessert- parle g sandwich was so yummy! Drinks were also good, some could of been stronger. The night we went was super busy so servers were busy with tables. Service was good but could have been better! Since DTA is quite new, I expected the wait time but after we ordered, the food came quick! read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Parle G sandwich - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Tasty food. A little twist on Indian. Friendly service and nice cool ambiance. The flaky bread was delicious and the flaky bread. Lamb too. read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Fish fry - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Indian bar with pretty good food and drinks. Got the okra fries and the lychee lemonade slushee was so good. The Darjeeling cocktail was less good - tea flavor was overpowered by lime and aloe. Service was good though and the interior decor was very cute! read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Okra fries - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

10/5 stars, no notes, amazing vibes, music was loud enough for vibes but not too loud so we could still talk and hear each other. Every single bite was incredible. Drinks were great. Try the chai Felicia as a dessert. I can't wait to go for brunch. Thank you for the amazing experience. Boston needs more places like this! read more

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Know they're still in soft launch, but DTA has definitely worked out the kinks mentioned in other reviews. Great food, attentive but not overbearing service. Everything we ordered came out quickly, hot, and delicious. Will be back! Also the decor is great - great vibes without being too fussy or over the top. read more

Overall good experience! Good ambience. But Potential to be better. Appetizers were great (Kale fry, Maggi + mango mocktail). Butter chicken entree was too sweet and too liquidy and less meat unfortunately. Rumali roti was excellent. Nan was good but too small a portion size. The service was a bit spotty. Lots of servers but sometimes a bit of confusion. We got seated and water was served quickly but had to wait for a bit long for someone to come take our order. Mocktail got forgotten and we had to remind after appetizers got finished. PS: the women's room had door latch broken - surprising to see this in a fairly new restaurant. read more

Good food. Oddly they did not have chai or any hot drinks at 1 PM even. The wait staff acted surprised to have customers show up on Sunday afternoon. read more

1. Food is too spicy ( even after telling to make it mild) 2. Service is bad and chaotic needs streamlining and a better manager 3. Ambiance is super good, good interiors in a great location. 4. Varied menu with good dishes, nicely thought. 5. Food is very flavorful but as mentioned too spicy even for Indian standards. Better management, rotating menu, checking spic levels without compromising flavors and you have a hit! read more

Came here with friends for lunch. The food was excellent! I read a few reviews with complaints about food not being authentic/traditional but it is considered Indian fusion :) I loved the "twists" on several Indian dishes and there are many usual entrees on the menu as well. The decor was beautiful, service was great. We will definitely visit again. read more

Would not pick up the phone and the music was too loud to hear myself think or eat. Don't tell aunty because the food was mid. Someone fire Ramya bro your food is bum. read more

So incredibly disappointed in this operation. We booked a large party table well in advance to celebrate my daughter's senior recital, with family and friends traveling from many states. We chose this spot particularly since I was in a wheelchair with a broken ankle. They canceled our reservation and never informed my daughter. We only found out at the last minute because we were cautious and smart enough to doublecheck. Incredibly unprofessional. Put us in a real bind at the last minute. And never returned the phone call to my daughter that they promised. Truly shameful behavior that is unacceptable. read more

kind of overpriced. not the most courteous of staff. the chicken was made very well. super flavourful and great name. read more

Don’t Tell Aunty - Indian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The service and ambiance were really good. Food: Crispy okra is a must. Chaater Tots were really good too, something different. The boiled peanuts needed more salt. Kerala fried chicken was underwhelming. The chicken needed more seasoning for the flavor that a kerala fried chicken generally has. The spicy smashed burger was okay too. The raw red onion did not go well with the burger. The sauce that was used in the burger had a sweetness to it which suppressed the flavor of the spices in the smashed patties. The fries that came with the burger and the chicken sandwich were really good. Perfectly crisp and well seasoned with the house spice mix. read more

Weird service and truly unnecessarily loud music for a place that offers Indian cuisine! All Indian places in the city have a buffet as well except this one. The management is rude to clients who happen to walk in and GOD FORBID, THEY DON'T HAVE A RESERVATION!!! After all, this is Back Bay neighborhood & most of the daily clients are musicians and professors. Have some mercy and for a change, use a playlist with some jazz music or traditional Indian music. We love it! Anything else but Bollywood music please!!! read more

Very nice service, popular with families/friends/groups, comfy seats for the high tops, fun menu options. Enjoyed the bolognese. Salad very fresh and like the dressing, pomegranate and chickpeas that go with it. read more

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The food here is pretty underwhelming. not well seasoned, overly deep fried and nothing unique about it. We ordered Okra fries, Kale chaat and sabudhana tikki for apps and The Spciy lamb burger. They put a whole slice of raw onion in the burger.. who does that? And the sauce for the apps were plain ketchup... not saying ketchup is bad, but for the price.. atlease put some effort in making a dip/sauce. Don't tell Auntie? Don't tell anyone.. read more